Johnny-Tapia-Obituary

Johnny Tapia

Obituary

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Johnny Tapia, the five-time boxing champion whose turbulent career was marked by cocaine addiction, alcohol, depression and run-ins with the law, was found dead Sunday at his Albuquerque home. He was 45.

Authorities were called to the house at about 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, spokesman Robert Gibbs said. The death didn't appear to be suspicious, he said.

Tapia won five championships in three weight classes, winning the WBA bantamweight title, the IBF and WBO junior bantamweight titles and the IBF featherweight belt.

He was regarded as the consummate underdog by his fans. The more trouble he found outside the ring — including several stints in jail — the more they rallied around him.

In a 1990s-era feud with fellow Albuquerque boxer and former world champion Danny Romero, Tapia's fans anointed him with the slang Spanish title of "Burque's Best."

But his life was also marked by tragedy. He was orphaned at 8, his mother stabbed 26 times with a screwdriver and left to die.

In 2007, he was hospitalized after an apparent cocaine overdose. Several days later, his brother-in-law and his nephew were killed in car accident on their way to Albuquerque to see the ailing boxer.

Tapia was banned from boxing for 3 1/2 years in the early '90s because of his cocaine addiction. But he knocked out Henry Martinez to win the WBO bantamweight title in 1994, and won four more championships over the next eight years.

He last fought in June, outpointing Mauricio Pastrana in an eight-round decision. He finished with a 59-5-2 record.

Gibbs said an autopsy will be performed in the next few days.


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP JOHNNY---WE WERE WITH YOU 2 WEEKS BEFORE YOU WENT INTO THE NEXT WORLD---YOIU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN---WE VISIT YOUR GRAVE OFTEN---WITH LOVE MICHAEL AND FRENCHIE SHEPHERD

Rest in peace champ .

Godspeed, and thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.

To the family. Sorry for the loss of your loved one. 'May in be in Gods memory.

JOHNNY..IT WAS A PLEASURE GETTING TO KNOW YOU AT LOGANS ROADHOUSE IN MCALLEN TEXAS. I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO TELL YOU " THANK YOU FOR THE RINGSIDE TICKETS WHEN YOU FOUGHT NICKI BENTZ. THAT WAS VERY GENEROUS OF YOU. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. NICK AND ANDREA REVELES. EL PASO TX

I have you in my heart always. I will always be your pops. Death cannot break this bond of love. Love Pops

I hope you know just how much you were loved...

R.I.P.

R.i.p